Slots proponents in Leominster are out of luck

LEOMINSTER — Opponents of the Mass Live Casino celebrated yesterday after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission chose Plainville over Leominster for the state's one slots only license.

Supporters of the casino were disappointed and said the city lost an opportunity for jobs and economic growth.

Leominster resident Arline Stith, co-chairman of No Slots Leominster, a group created to oppose the slots casino from opening on Jungle Road, said she spent the past three days watching all the deliberations by the Gaming Commission.

"It was a real nail-biter, but I am very happy," she said. "It's a David and Goliath story, and I am so thrilled."

Mrs. Stith said she sees the decision as a miracle.

"I'm so relieved that it is not coming here," she said, adding that she believes prayers from many of the opponents helped.

Mrs. Stith started with a small group she organized after the casino plan was announced. She said it was her first campaign of any type, but felt it was an important issue. From the small group, they became more and more visible leading up to the September referendum, which allowed the casino to move forward to final consideration by the Gaming Commission. The casino was supported by 61 percent of those voting in September, in part because it promised both construction and permanent jobs for residents.

Opponents doubted the region would benefit and continued to campaign against the proposal.

"I think we can do better for economic development in the city than a slots parlor," Mrs. Stith said. "The decision is great news to our ears."

Theresa Cross of Leominster, another opponent of the casino, said she too was thrilled with the decision and grateful to the people who worked in opposition to the casino.

"I think it's a great blessing," she said.

Ms. Cross said the city could use family entertainment and small business, both of which she does not believe the casino would have brought. But she said she was surprised by the decision. She said it was her understanding the Gaming Commission wanted the casino in an area away from other casinos.

"I was thinking they definitely wanted to move away from a gambling center," she said.

Ms. Cross said she feels Plainville is better equipped to deal with a casino in its community, but she also feels bad for residents in the area who opposed the casino.

Like Ms. Cross, supporters of the Leominster casino believed the location was a plus for the proposal. It is well away from any other proposed Massachusetts casino and would have helped prevent a New Hampshire casino from siphoning money out of the state.

Patrick McCarty, who was one of the first to become actively involved with the pro-casino effort when he was approached last spring to find a location Cordish Cos. could build on, was doubly disappointed. The location eventually selected by the developers is owned by his family, but he said he also feels the casino would have benefited the city.

"We thought it was a tremendous opportunity for Leominster," he said. "Obviously the commission did not see it that way."

David Nault, who was involved in the casino effort from the start and helped run the campaign to win the referendum in September, said the decision is a major loss for the city and its residents.

"The $4 million a year in revenue the Cordish Cos. would have given to the city and the jobs are a major loss," he said. "There are so many people we know who have a had time feeding their families and keeping their homes warm at night."

Mr. Nault said he strongly believes other businesses in the city and surrounding communities would have also benefited.

"What it would have done for area businesses is incredible," he said. "If they did it (chose Plainville) to keep the horse racing industry alive, it doesn't make sense to me."

Mr. Nault said the state would have doubly benefited because Leominster is a Gateway City where state resources are supposed to be targeted to improve employment and other issues. He said the casino money would have come to the city through the agreement between Cordish and the city, but also would have helped with jobs.

"We don't have a lot of opportunities for jobs," he said.

Mr. Nault said although his is strongly disappointed in the loss of the casino, he is glad for the start of casino gambling in the state. He said it will result in more money in the state budget for education.

Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG

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